Autogate production

[Alan in Little Washington]

Originally Posted by Travis Porter

I am dense. I have a basic understanding of relays, electricity, etc, but something still isn't clicking.

You have a solenoid that activates a pneumatic relay.

No, the "solenoids" are solenoid pneumatic air valves, all one unit- an electromagnet (solenoid part) operates the valve part.

The solenoids are 110V or are they 24V?

I have some 24VAC solenoid valves and some 110VAC solenoid valves. They are often available with 12VAC, 24VAC, 110VAC, 220VAC, etc. coils.

Are you going to take the output side of the machine switch wire and wire it to the solenoid?

Essentially, for simplicity, yes.

Four of my machines have low voltage (24VAC) magnetic starters, not the "all in the button box" type, but the ones where a transformer, relay/contactor with overcurrent block are mounted in a separate enclosure on the back of the machine cabinet. For those I will be tapping into the 24VAC starter control voltage and using that to operate the 24VAC solenoid air valve.

[Travis Porter]

OK, it makes sense now. Thanks for being patient with me.

Why do pneumatic instead of electric? Is it cheaper this way or easier to make up?

I know, lots of questions. I would like to do autogates myself some time, just haven't gotten the gumption. The ecogates are a joke and prefabbed commercial autogates are way out of my league.

TIA.

[Alan in Little Washington]

Originally Posted by Travis Porter

OK, it makes sense now. Thanks for being patient with me.

Why do pneumatic instead of electric? Is it cheaper this way or easier to make up?

I know, lots of questions. I would like to do autogates myself some time, just haven't gotten the gumption. The ecogates are a joke and prefabbed commercial autogates are way out of my league.

TIA.

Most electro-mechanical solenoids only have a throw of 1" or less so you need a lever linkage with 1:7 mechanical advantage to achieve enough throw for a 6" gate (which needs about 7" of throw). Pneumatic cylinders come in a full range of sizes up to several feet! Also pneumatic will not stall or cause electrical problems. The cylinder can be stopped in any position with no affect on the system.